Grow your own: Jobs to do in July

DAMPING DOWN: Damp down floors in the morning. This keeps the atmosphere humid and discourages red spider mite. Make sure the greenhouse is well ventilated in warm weather and water plants regularly.
MELONS: Check melons for male and female flowers and fertilise the female flowers when necessary.
PESTS: Check for pests regularly. Spray infestations of aphids with soft soap solution every third day until all signs of them have gone.
POT ON: Pot up lemon grass into individual 3-litre pots.
SOWING: Sow cabbages such as 'April', 'Red Drumhead' and 'Wheelers' into trays. Sow pak choi and Chinese cabbage into modules, ensuring they are well watered.
THINNING: Thin out fennel seedlings when the first leaves are large enough to handle.

Prune trained apples to keep them fruiting

APPLES: Prune trained apples throughout late July and August.
BROAD BEANS AND PEAS: Remove broad beans and peas that have finished cropping, and dig over vacant ground.
CELERY: Dig a trench for celery and add lime to the bottom to increase soil pH before planting.
COMPOST HEAD: Turn them to ensure even decomposition. Cut comfrey leaves and add them to the compost heap.
FEED: Feed fruiting plants, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, peppers and aubergines, with a high-potash liquid feed.
GARLIC AND SHALLOTS: Put garlic and shallots out to dry during sunny spells.

PLANT: Plant the following:
* Beetroot (such as 'Chioggia Pink').
* Brassicas for autumn-to-winter harvesting (such as 'Celtic', 'January King', 'Puma' and 'Tundra').
* Broccoli (such as 'Claret', 'Early Purple', 'Romanesco' and 'White Sprouting'). Cover broccoli with a fine netting.
* Kale (such as 'Showbar' and curly kale 'Reflex'.
* Lettuces grown in modules, such as 'All Year Round', 'Fristina', 'Rosetta' and 'Salad Bowl'. After planting, water in regularly.
* Runner beans, such as 'Galaxy', 'Gulliver' and 'Painted Lady'.
* Turnip 'Golden Ball'.

Lift autumn-planted onions

ONIONS: Check onions for signs of onion mildew. Autumn-planted onions can be lifted now. Lift any diseased bulbs and dry the remainder. String up and store healthy bulbs.
PLANTING OUT: Plant out basil, endive and parsley.
POTATO BLIGHT: Check potatoes for blight, which appears as brown blotches on the foliage. Remove and burn any affected leaves.
PRUNE: Prune trained pears throughout late July/August.
PUMPKINS: Pinch out the growing tips of pumpkins when at least one fruit has set. This limits further fruit forming and encourages the growth of existing fruit.
SLUG PROTECTION: Protect thinned carrots from slugs by placing the bottom halves of plastic bottles over the young plants.
SOW: Sow mustard where early potatoes were. This acts as a green manure, which improves the soil. Sow radishes direct into the soil.
STRAWBERRY BEDS: Clear strawberry beds, trim foliage and compost it. Clear away any mulch and debris.
TIE IN: Tie in blackberries and other hybrid berries. Tie Brussels sprouts to stakes for support. Tie in tomatoes and remove sideshoots from cordon varieties.
WATERING: Water regularly, especially in very dry periods. Wait until evening when the heat of the sun has gone, and direct water at the base of plants, not the leaves.
WEEDING: Hoe and weed all areas, especially between the rows.